Key milestones of the Gathbandhan Express as it picks up pace

Here are some of the milestones from the recent past, tracking the movement of the Grand Alliance.

The biggest twist in the Opposition tale is that the AAP wants an alliance with the Congress in Delhi, but the latter is yet to take a call on it.

Despite their differences, the Opposition camp has been pretty active over the past 10 days, trying to put up a united front and work on a common minimum program. Here are some of the milestones from the recent past, tracking the movement of the Grand Alliance.

Rahul’s Front FootSpelling out the party strategy after the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party sealed alliance in UP, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the party will play on the front foot in every state, taking the fight to the BJP’s door.
Tejashwi Tantrums On February 3, while addressing a rally called by the Congress, former cricketer-turned RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav reminded the Congress to have a large heart to accommodate Opposition partners. No deal has been struck in Bihar yet as the Congress is asking for more seats while other partners aren’t ready to comply with it.

Didi Dares Centre On February 3, when the CBI tried to enter Kolkata Police Commissioner’s residence for Saradha-related enquiry, it became a full-on Centre vs state fight, with Mamata Banerjee taking to the streets in protest. The Opposition parties rallied behind her with Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Chandrababu Naidu calling her over phone while Tejashwi Yadav along with many others visiting her in Kolkata.
KCR Drifts Away from Mamata With Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu coming closer to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Telangana CM and TRS leader KCR didn’t see much scope for his party in the Grand Alliance. He decided to stand for a non-Congress, non-BJP alliance. To further alienate from the Opposition Grand Alliance, KCR spoke to Jagan Mohan Reddy of YSR Congress and is likely to support him in Andhra Pradesh.
Raju, not the Gentle Man for Congress-NCP Raju Shetty, leader of Swabhiman Shetkari Sangathan was an NDA partner in 2014, but has walked away from the alliance and is in discussions with Congress-NCP to contest the Lok Sabha polls. But a week ago, Shetty surprised both the parties by saying that he will contest on his own as talks have made no headway. Shetty is demanding seven seats, but Congress-NCP are ready to give only three.
Elephant in the RoomAs the Opposition parties trying to come together, the biggest hurdle for them is Mayawati’s BSP. She has been trying to stay away from the Congress in UP and other parts of the country despite repeated appeals by the Congress and other Opposition leaders. BSP also didn’t attend the Opposition meeting in Kolkata on December 10, and more recently, the one-day dharna by N Chandra Babu Naidu in Delhi. She has also been attacking both the BJP and Congress, hinting that there’s no chance of any talk with Congress at this moment.

Priyanka Googly from CongressAs SP, BSP and RLD struck a deal in UP leaving Congress out of the alliance, Rahul Gandhi bowled a googly --Priyanka Gandhi -- which stunned all parties. On February 11, Priyanka did a roadshow to start her innings as general secretary incharge of East UP. She is holding marathon meetings with party workers for three days and has made it clear that there will be no alliance with SP and BSP.

Andhra Man Shows the Way Rahul Gandhi has found a new friend in N Chandrababu Naidu, who is fighting hard for Congress in the Grand Alliance. Naidu has emerged as the statue of unity for the Opposition. On February 12, he sat on a day-long dharna -- Dharma Porata Deeksha -- in Delhi, which was attended by all the Opposition parties. Next day, Naidu was back again at Jantar Mantar, this time for Mamata Banerjee.

Hum AAP Ke Hain Kaun The biggest twist in the Opposition tale is that the AAP wants an alliance with the Congress in Delhi, but the latter is yet to take a call on it. On February 13, Mamata advised AAP to contest all the seven seats and win them. Kejriwal also said that he has become a chief minister after defeating Congress in Delhi.

The Pawar PlayPawar is doing what CPM leader Harikishan Singh Surjeet used to do in the past. Using his seniority, Pawar is talking and negotiating with everyone to forge a pre-poll deal. After Mamata and Kejriwal criticized Congress on February 13, they all gathered at Pawar’s residence in the evening to work on a common minimum program.